Any trip to state starts with first step this weekend

Wednesday

Feb 16, 2011 at 4:07 AM

By AARON DORKSENDaily Record Sports EditorMany years after a wrestler's high school days are over, if they tell someone they participated in the sport, chances are they'll be asked, "Did you go to state?"For Ohio grapplers, the first of a two-weekend gauntlet that will answer that question begins with sectional tournaments this weekend. Qualifiers will advance to districts the following week, where they'll then have the opportunity to join the exclusive club of 2011 state qualifiers.Before a wrestler can even think about going to state, which will be held March 3-5 at Ohio State's Value City Arena, they'll first have to reach the district level.The following is a glance at what to watch for as area wrestlers compete at sectional meets this Friday and Saturday.Div. I Hoover Sectional(Top four wrestlers in each class advance toMentor District)WHERE: Hoover High School, 525 Seventh St. NE, North Canton 44720WHEN: Friday 5 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m. with finals at 6 p.m.AREA TEAM: WoosterOTHERS: Barberton, Canton McKinley, Akron Ellet, Akron Garfield, Canton GlenOak, Green, Hoover, Jackson, Uniontown Lake, Massillon Perry, Canton Timken, Massillon.THE BREAKDOWN: The Generals have just one returning district qualifier in senior Zach Ellsworth, who's 29-4 at 160 pounds. Wooster had a disappointing last-place finish at the OCC Meet Feb. 5, producing a runner-up in Nate Stebbins (119, 22-8) and thirds from Ellsworth and Anthony Catanzarite (152, 30-6, ranked 15th in Brakeman Report).Wooster finished sixth in last year's sectional, which saw Lake (226.5 points) edge Perry (220.5) in a two-team race."I think it's gonna be a drag-out fight with everybody this year," Generals coach Troy Worth said. "All of the teams there will have good kids, and Perry (ranked No. 2) of course is out of this world."With Ellsworth and Catanzarite being seniors, this is obviously their last chance to reach what's been an elusive state goal to this point."I think that urgency really set in in practice Monday," Worth said. "They were really focused and working hard and hopefully all their hard work pays dividends."Asked what the key will be for the duo to take the next step, Worth replied, "They're going to have to be aggressive and go after it. They can't sit back and wait and think, 'Oh, I'm going to get another chance.' We're telling them to go 100 percent, but be smart about the way they wrestle."------Div. II ClaymontSectional(Top four wrestlers in each class advance toColumbus East District)WHERE: Claymont High School, 4205 Indian Hill Road, Uhrichsville, 44683WHEN: Friday 5 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m., with finals at 4 p.m.AREA TEAM: West HolmesOTHERS: Cambridge, Carrollton, Claymont, Dover, Indian Valley, Meadowbrook, Minerva, McConnelsville Morgan, New Philadelphia, River View, Tri-Valley.THE BREAKDOWN: The Knights were at the Meadowbrook Sectional last year, but will now have to take on the fifth-ranked host Mustangs in a tournament that's seen Dover added as well. At first glance, the vastly re-worked Claymont Sectional is a tough break for West Holmes, but coach Jeff Woods has a positive spin. "Our sectional is going to be tougher than it's been," Woods said. "With Claymont, Carrollton and Minerva added to it, we might not be taking as many to districts as we've been accustomed to."With that being said, our district draws will be away from those teams, so that should be a good thing for our kids who make it out of the sectional."West Holmes is coming off a strong performance at the OCC Meet, where it took second led by champions and returning state qualifiers Max Rohskopf (130, 21-2, ranked No. 12) and Justin Stitzlein (145, 33-2, 19 pins, ranked No. 3). Also topping 20 wins for the Knights are Will Morehouse (125, 22-8), Zach Hendershott (112, 21-7) and Marshall Overholt (152, 20-10).------Div. III NorthwesternSectional(Top four wrestlers in each class advance to Garfield Heights District)WHERE: Northwestern High School, 7473 N. Elyria Rd., West Salem 44287WHEN: Friday 5:30 p.m.; Saturday at 11 with finals at 6 p.m.AREA TEAMS: Chippewa, Dalton, Hillsdale, Loudonville, Mapleton, Northwestern, Norwayne, Orrville, Smithville, Tuslaw, Triway and Waynedale.OTHERS: Black River, Canton Central Catholic, Mapleton.THE BREAKDOWN: The Northwestern wrestling team will try to continue its hot streak by adding a sectional title to its Wayne County Athletic League crown captured this past Saturday. "We haven't had the (sectional) title in a few years," said Huskies coach Spencer Hershey, whose team last won its home sectional in 2005.Based on their 195-132 margin of victory over Waynedale led by six champions at the WCAL Meet, the Huskies look like a strong favorite to bring home another first this weekend.Tuslaw topped the Bears 214-199 to win the sectional last year, but both teams have been hit hard by key losses -- most notably the Bears who had Tuslaw move-ins Zack and Zane Nelson (2010 Northwestern Sectional champs) ruled ineligible by the OHSAA. Mustangs coach Chase Horvath said, "I don't know anything about it and don't want to comment (on the Nelsons)," focusing instead on trying to get a young team led by 15th-ranked Dion Perez (119) to advance as many to the district as possible.Black River won the Patriot Athletic Conference this past weekend, but its highest ranked grappler is No. 13 Mike Hozan (103, 30-4) and the Pirates might not have the horses to stay with the Huskies. Second-ranked Kurt Schaefer (189, 42-3) leads Northwestern, but fellow senior Tyler Topp (145, 29-4, ranked 12th at 152) is actually the team's only returning sectional winner from 2010. Logan Hershey, last week's WCAL Most Valuable Wrestler, has come on strong, and like many of the grapplers from his league could be in for a rematch this week.The only other local back who won a sectional title is Chippewa's unbeaten Bryson Hall (171, 35-0), who coach Chris Osting said has opted to wrestle at 171 for the tournament. Hall was fourth at 160 at state last year and many thought he would try to cut down to that weight again to avoid three-time state champ Chris Phillips, but Osting said Hall "wants the challenge."The heavyweight bracket looks to be especially tough with four top-15 ranked big men: Triway's No. 7 Eddie Flinner (PAC champ), Smithville's No. 8 Paul Kelbly, Orrville's No. 10 Sam Reusser (OCC champ) and Chippewa's No. 14 Zack Srock (WCAL champ).Schaefer, Hall (ranked fourth at 160), Flinner and Norwayne's Dustin Grier (125, 23-3, ranked No. 6 at 130) are all trying to become three-time state qualifiers, with Schaefer and Hall also trying to medal for a third time.Also ranked among the state's top eight at their weight are Waynedale's No. 5 Zeb Beam (152, 45-1) and Loudonville's No. 7 Dylan Bender (171, 36-2).FINAL 2010-11 D.R. WRESTLINGTOP OF THE CROP(based on dual meet strength, previous rankings in parentheses)1. West Holmes (1) -- Powerful Knights run table atop TOC, although it would have been interesting to see them dual red-hot Northwestern down the stretch. 2. Northwestern (2) -- Huskies have turned it on ever since Sandusky St. Mary's Duals. With WCAL trophy back at Northwestern after four-year drought, will likely need to clear room for sectional trophy as well.3. Waynedale (3) -- It's been a long time since Bears had just two WCAL champs, but challenge will be to regroup for sectional.4. Tuslaw (5) -- Tuslaw takes third at PAC to overtake Triway.5. Triway (4) -- Titans disappointed with sixth-place PAC performance, but still a little deeper for a dual than other TOC contenders such as Chippewa, Norwayne.Aaron Dorksen can be reached at 330-287-1621 or adorksen@the-daily-record.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.